Airports: YSSY,YMML,YBBN
Date/Time: August 7, 2026, 5pm PT - 9pm PT
Date/Time (Zulu): August 8, 2026, 0000z - 0400z

Event Details

VATUSA in partnership with VATPAC invites you to Friday Night Ops: Downunder! Join us as we light up the skies between Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane on Friday the 8th of August (Saturday morning Downunder)

Friday Night Ops is a weekly event run by VATUSA; normally visiting places all around the United States. This time around, Friday Night Ops are coming to the land down under. Fly anywhere between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from 0000z to 0400z (1000-1400 AEST).

Flight Planning

In Australia, flight plans are filed in the ICAO format. SIDs & STARs are not included in the filed flight plan. This will be provided by ATC on contact with clearance delivery (for departures) and with the Centre controller prior to top of descent.

Pre-Departure Clearances (PDCs) are used in Australia. Pilots are required to readback PDCs to the delivery controller. However, when reading back the PDC you do not need to read back everything. Just the SQUAWK, DEPARTURE PROCEDURE, RUNWAY and BAY.

The following video outlines the procedures when flying in Australian Airspace: https://youtu.be/tzoIAAGp7Rc

VATPAC recommends the following routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane:

YSSY – YMML:  
DCT WOL H65 LEECE Q29 BOOIN DCT

YMML – YSSY: 
DCT DOSEL Y59 RIVET DCT

YSSY – YBBN:   
DCT OLSEM Y193 BANDA H252 BN DCT

YBBN – YSSY:   
DCT BN H91 IGDAM H652 TESAT DCT

YMML – YBBN:  
DCT ML H66 LAGOB H252 BN DCT

YBBN – YMML:  
DCT BN H91 SANEG Q35 DORSU H119 ML DCT

Pilots are still welcome to fly other routes, however you must make sure your flight plan is compliant with FlightPlanning Requirements. You can use our Pilot Assist Tools 'Route Finder' function to find current valid routings.

Aerodrome and Departure/Approach charts are available for free within Australia which can be found here.

Scenery
YSSY - Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport:
Payware - FlyTampa v2 (FSX/P3D)
Payware – FlyTampa (MSFS)
Payware - FlyTampa (X-Plane)
Freeware - AVSIM (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - Gateway (X-Plane 11/12)

YMML - Melbourne Airport:
Payware – Orbx (MSFS)
Freeware – Flightsim.to (MSFS)
Payware – Orbx (FSX/P3D)
Freeware – Flyaway (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - Gateway (XPlane)

YBBN - Brisbane Airport:
Payware - ORBX (P3D v4.5+)
Payware - ORBX (MSFS)
Payware - ORBX (X-Plane 11)
Freeware - Ray Smith (P3D/FSX)
Freeware - CDG (X-Plane)

Airports: KSFO, KOAK, KSJC, KSMF

Date/Time: August 01, 4-8 PM PDT
Date/Time (zulu): August 01, 2300z - 0300z

GTOUT while you still can... or GOHOM if you dare.
All FATHE is lost at Orlando International...

The third edition of the most terrifying FNO of the year has arrived...

Enter Orlando International if you dare—but beware. A vast BAIRN wasteland surrounds the airport. Don't stray too near... They might just take a BITTE and surviving the night may prove far too PRICY.

Expect haunted arrivals, spine-chilling departures, and enough frights to make even the bravest pilot question their next clearance.

Join us for a night of ghostly ATC, eerie operations, and terrifyingly busy skies.

Come visit Orlando International...

...OR GTOUT!!!

Banner to be posted in due time

Join us for "A Wednesday Night in Charm City" on August 5th, 2026, as we put the spotlight on Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): Maryland's busiest aviation gateway and a major hub serving the DC-Baltimore corridor. From 2300z to 0300z, pilots can experience the full spectrum of operations at this bustling field, from regional jets to widebody heavies.

This is your chance to experience BWI fully staffed, a rare treat for an airport that sees a diverse mix of domestic and international traffic. Whether you're inbound from across the pond, heading down to the shore, or just passing through, come show some love to Maryland's premier aviation hub. So grab your crab cakes, file your flight plan, and get ready for a Wednesday night that's anything but crabby in Charm City!